Corporate & Hospitality

Young guns added to Matildas squad

Coach Tom Sermanni has added three stars of the future to his Matildas squad that will face Canada this Friday as part of a double-header at the Sydney Football Stadium preceding the Socceroos match against African powerhouse Ghana.

Coach Tom Sermanni has added three stars of the future to his Matildas squad that will face Canada this Friday as part of a double-header at the Sydney Football Stadium preceding the Socceroos match against African powerhouse Ghana.

Young Matildas 16-year-old pair Tameka Butt and Ella Mastrantonio, along with 21 year old striker Jenna Tristram will join the squad which convenes in Sydney on Monday. It will be a welcome return to the national team for the Coffs Harbour raised Tristram who has been absent since suffering a serious knee injury a day after making her Matildas debut in her home town in April last year.

Perth defender Mastrantonio will be hoping to make her debut at senior level while Gold Coast based midfielder Butt has already made three appearances for the Matildas. They will join fellow members of last year's Young Matildas team already selected for this match - Ellyse Perry, Kyah Simon, Clare Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams.

They will have the chance to stake their claims for further selection in the absence of overseas based players - Heather Garriock (Fortuna Hjorring, Denmark), Kate Gill and Lisa De Vanna (both AIK Solna, Sweden) - who will join the squad in Vietnam for the 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup which commences on May 28.

The Matildas will depart Australia on May 25 for Vietnam where they will be aiming to become the first Australian team to be crowned Asian champions in the final in Ho Chi Minh City on June 8.

Australia will open their AFC Women-s Asian Cup campaign against Chinese Taipei on Thursday 29 May, followed by the match against Korea Republic on Saturday 31 May before the final group match against Japan on Monday 2 June.

Australia last met Canada at the FIFA Women's World Cup last year when the Matildas snatched an injury time equaliser to eliminate their opponents from the tournament and reach the quarter finals for the first time.

The Matildas squad for the international match v Canada in Sydney on Friday: